Steering and braking mechanism for sleds.



H. R. CURWEN.

STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM FOR SLEDS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.23 191L 7 14 15 5 :E j K 10 INVENTOR liilCzur'wtn ATTORNEY UNITED STATESQPATENT mm. v

HENRY R. cUR'w-EN, or ING REM, PENNs'yLvAN-IA.

STEERIN Aim BRAKING I-MECI-IAN-ISM For; SLEDS.

Applicationifiled February 23, 1912. Serial no; emua. 1

the primary 0l)]( at of .my invention is -the provision of a simple and durable mechanism that will avoid the many accidents' that occur due to control being lost of the sled when coasting. 7 v p 7 Another object of this invention is to pro-" vide an inexpensive mechanism of the above type that is applicable to various types of sleds, the mechanismbeing arrangedwhereby it can be safely manipulated bythe occu pant of the sled for steering'or braking purposes.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention residesin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of'parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed. Reference will now be had to the drawing, where'in: r

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion ofia sled in accordancewith this invention, and Fig. 2 is a. frontelevation'ofthe same.

The reference numeral '1 denotes the lo'n- 'gitudinal frames of a sled t-hat are connected by bolsters '2 supporting a seat 3. 'The frames 1 are provided with runners 4 and said runners are cpnnectedto the bolsters .2 by inverted V-shaped stra s 5, The elements 1 to 5 inclusive are 0 aconventional form, andmy invention resides in equipping the forward end of a sled with a steering and braking mechanism that can be safelyused bythe occupantof the sled.- The outer sides of the frames 1 are provided with upwardly-extending standards 6 and pivotally connected to said standards, as at 7 are handle bars 8 having'handles 9. The outer sides of the frames 1, adjacent to the standdirection, and b both handles the club-feet'pflthe rods 11 Specification of Letters-Patent. Patlited Mar, 11, 1913.

a rds 6, are provided with journals 10 and .slidably mounted in said journals are rods 11. The rods' l1 have-the uppjerends thereof formed with slotted bifurcated heads 12 that receive the handle bars 8 which are secured therein by pins 13. Therods 11, adjacent to the heads 12, are provided-withthe journals 10 and the collars 14, are coiled compression springs 15that support the rods 11 in a normally velevated position. Secured the runners 4 are plates 16 havingoutwardly projecting eyes; The lower ends of the rods .12 exten through said eyes and the lower vcollars 14 and encirclin'gsaid rods, between to the outer face of the curved portions of p,

ends of each of said rods is provided with a club footv 17.

\Vhen coasting, a pressureupon either one of the handles 9 will lower the correspond'-- ing rod 11 andsteer the isldina desired simultaneously pressing serve as brake shoe's'and retard the mov e ent of the sled or eventually stop the same.

By resorting to the. use oftlie mechanism, the practice of using the' toe of the shoe for steering purposes is obviated, consequently sled, thereby prevent-ingthe occupant from a savingjn shoe leather, and-themechauism i has a further advantageof providing handle being thrown when a bumper or irregu- -W hat I claim is v The combination with the longitudinal flaritv in the coasting surface is encountered;

.bars of a bob sled frame, a seat mounted upon'said bars, a .pair of runners connected to said bars and havingthe forward portion thereof upwardly curved, "of a journal se cured to each bar forwardly OfY the seat, a. plate secured to the lower face of each runner at-tbe curved portion and projecting outwardly therefrom and provided with an i i eye, said e e in alinement with said journal, an upwar ly-extending standard securedto each of said rods forwardly of the journals and provided with a bifurcated upper end,

vertically disposed rpds slidabl mounted in said straps and eyes and provi ed each with acollar near its upper ends, a club foot at' its lower end, rearwardl extending handle In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature bars pivotally connecte in the bifurcated in the presence of two witnesses. ends of said arms and pivotally connected intermediate their ends in the upper ends of v HENRY R. CURWEN. i

5 said rods, and springs surrounding said rods and interposed between said collar and Witnesses:

straps for normally retaining said feet in an MAX H. Snomvrrz, Y inactive position. CHRISTINA T. H001). 

